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Description
The 18-month project aims to establish an online platform (website/social network) that will connect experienced craftsmen with stakeholders in the area of tourism and product design, interested public and possible successors. We contribute to a professionalization of individuals working in the field of traditional crafts and we raise awareness about this topic. We will create a user-friendly virtual environment for artisans to present their products, share their stories and express their needs. The main output - a social network - is a format close to the young generation, therefore it is a perfect way to reach them and arouse their interest in traditions and crafts. In collaboration with 1 Norwegian expert and 4 partner art colleges, a collection of design objects will be created by master craftsmen together with product design students.
In the area of connecting crafts and design, we will use the experience of the Norwegian partner who, due to his background, has the ability to compare the situation in both countries and bring the Norwegian best practice to the project.
The project is a response to the fact that after the demise of the Krásná jizba and ÚLUV, the bearers of traditional crafts lost a linking body that disseminated information about their work and thus effectively supported the production and sale of their products.
The project is part of the long-term project "Krásná práce", which works to reintegrate crafts and folk production into the contemporary culture of the Czech Republic, to make the work of the masters of crafts more visible, to network them and to connect them to the young generation from which potential successors are recruited.
Through the work of our Foundation and the project, we are reopening the topic that maintaining folk crafts cannot be done by preserving traditional morphology or by one-off actions, but only by systematic care that would make folk handicraft production part of the contemporary culture.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to map the rich heritage of folk crafts in the Czech Republic, identifying traditional techniques, skilled craftsmen, and their creations while integrating them into the tourism industry. It fostered collaboration by connecting craftsmen, designers, and design students from four major art universities, with their work showcased through an innovative interactive web platform. The initiative also introduced traditional Czech techniques to students, inspiring the creation of modern products that combine heritage with contemporary design. To share these efforts, the project culminated in the "Krásná Práce 2022" exhibition, which highlighted this vibrant craft tradition to both industry experts and the general public.
The project involved several key activities and outputs:
- Conducting a comprehensive mapping of traditional crafts, techniques, and key players, including a needs analysis to identify challenges and opportunities.
- Introducing students from four art universities to traditional crafts and techniques, enabling them to collaborate with master craftsmen in developing innovative new products.
- Establishing connections between craftsmen and domestic tourism stakeholders to promote their work within the tourism sector.
- Organizing the "Krásná Práce 2022" exhibition, which showcased the collaboration between designers, product design students, and craftsmen.
- Developing a new interactive web platform to connect participants, showcase activities, and provide a central hub for information on events and networking opportunities.
These activities worked synergistically to map the landscape of traditional crafts, foster collaboration among senior craftsmen, designers, and students from universities (VŠUP in Prague, UJEP in Ústí nad Labem, TU in Brno, and UTB in Zlín), and drive the development and presentation of new products. The web platform further supports these efforts by highlighting key players, facilitating networking, and promoting events within the domestic tourism industry.
The project significantly contributed to the program’s goal of strengthening economic development by fostering collaboration within the cultural and creative industries (CCI). It enhanced network cooperation and showcased traditional crafts and individual craftsmen. Students from four art universities were introduced to traditional techniques and crafts, while master craftsmen gained visibility through the interactive platform.
The project also established a foundation for long-term collaboration, with FB continuing its partnership with universities. Students and teachers have been motivated to explore and create in this field over the long term. The web platform will remain active as a central hub, and the exhibition will become an annual event to further support and promote this initiative.
The exhibition "Krásná Práce 2022" was part of the Design Week 2023 that took place in Milan in Italy (March 2023).
Summary of bilateral results
Cooperation with the Norwegian partner went according to plan: prof. Jan Michl presented his lecture Folk art and design, thereby providing the students with a theoretical and historical background to the topic and for their collaboration with the masters of the craft.